Frenship Football team rallies behind local girl with hydrocephalus

The entire Frenship High School football team is wearing a crest on their helmets in honor of a Lubbock girl fighting her battle with hydrocephalus, or a buildup of fluid on the brain.

One and a half year-old Alice Dawn Gillespie was born with hydrocephalus.

"She had neurosurgery day one of life and had a shunt placed. She's had four major neurosurgeries. And then also six other surgical procedures," said Rebekah Gillespie, Alice's mom.

Frenship quarterback Chandler Brand is very close with the Gillespie family through their church, and he felt motivated to do something meaningful.

"It just kind of spoke to my heart that even though we come out here and we're battling every Friday night, what we're doing isn't that hard. She's battling with her life every day," Brand said.

He was originally going to wear the crest designed in honor of Alice on his own football helmet. Just a small token of support.

"And I was just humbled by that," said John Gillespie, Alice's dad.

But the idea grew from one helmet, to the next. And the entire team wanted to be a part of this.

"It was really special to me, being a leader on the team I felt like it was something that I could do to get the team behind to get the team to know that they're, we're not just playing for ourselves or for the community, but we're playing for the people that are watching us," Brand said.

As Alice continues to grow and fight on, the Gillespie family can find comfort during the hard times knowing they have a whole team surrounding them with love.

"I love that family and I would do anything for them. So I love the fact that I get to support them," Brand said.

"She's his hero in a way, and um, that just really blesses me that someone so small, had such a great impact. Because she truly is a gift and we are blessed to have her," Rebekah said.

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